Oluwole Oke Dumps PDP Over Leadership Failure, Neglect of Constituents

In a bold and emotionally charged announcement, Hon. Oluwole Oke, the federal lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in Osun State, has officially parted ways with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party he helped build and served for decades. Speaking on Rave FM’s Frank Talk programme in Osogbo, Oke cited prolonged dissatisfaction with both the national and state leadership of the PDP as the chief reason behind his defection.

The decision, he said, followed two weeks of intensive consultation with his constituents and political allies, where the overwhelming consensus was that the PDP no longer represented their aspirations or offered a viable platform for progress.

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Constituency First: Oke’s Justification for Exit

According to Oke, his defection was primarily driven by a commitment to the development and welfare of his people, rather than political ambition. He expressed frustration that despite years of loyalty to the PDP, the needs of his constituents were consistently overlooked — especially under the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

“I decided to leave PDP; I was a founding member. I contested and won elections under the party, but my people are suffering,” Oke explained. “The government has refused to recognize or serve them. After consulting with my people, we agreed: it’s time to quit.”

The veteran legislator underscored that while he had personally delivered jobs and initiated development projects, the political climate within the PDP had become increasingly hostile, rendering him ineffective in pushing for the change his constituency desperately needs.

“For how long would you continue to feed your enemy?” Oke asked pointedly. “It’s time to partner with the federal government to bring development to my constituency. We can’t keep empowering those who work against us.”

A Cry for Infrastructure and Fairness

Oke was particularly vocal about the deplorable state of infrastructure in Obokun/Oriade, accusing the state government of deliberate neglect. He listed key road networks — including those connecting Esa-Oke, Imesi Ile, Ijebu Jesa, and Esa-Odo — as critical economic lifelines that have been left in ruins, stalling the transportation of farm produce and damaging livelihoods.

“These roads are death traps. The last rehabilitation happened during Baba Akande’s administration in 1999. Since then, nothing. Why should we be treated like second-class citizens? We are human beings, not animals,” Oke lamented.

He insisted that infrastructure is not a luxury but a basic right and that any government ignoring such fundamental needs is not worthy of support.

Frustration with PDP Leadership at National Level

Beyond the Osun State administration, Oke also took aim at the PDP’s national leadership, accusing it of incompetence and lack of strategic direction. He cited the party’s struggles in historically strong states like Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Bayelsa, warning that without effective reform, the PDP risks political extinction.

He also expressed bitterness over the fate of his Federal College of Agriculture bill, which passed all legislative stages but was never signed into law — an outcome he attributed to political sabotage within the PDP.

“Why would you empower the enemy, but not support your own who is working for the people? My bill would have changed the lives of thousands in Ijebu Jesa and beyond. But it was ignored,” he said with evident disappointment.

PDP’s Electoral Future in Jeopardy

Looking ahead to upcoming elections, Oke predicted a disastrous outcome for the PDP in his region. He claimed that in key areas such as Esa Oke, Owena, and Ikeji Arakeji, the party would struggle to secure even a fraction of its former support.

“In Esa Oke, PDP will not get 500 votes out of our 9,000. In Owena and Ikeji Arakeji, they will barely scrape 1,000 votes. I can give you statistics. The people are tired,” he declared.

Despite his departure, Oke made it clear that his decision was not rooted in personal ambition but in a desire to align with the federal government and bring tangible development to his constituency. He cited the establishment of a federal institution in Iragbiji, near his constituency, as an example of the kind of opportunities he wants to channel toward his people.

“The president is our father, our uncle. We can’t have him in power and stand aloof. We must support him to bring prosperity to our land,” he concluded.

As the PDP continues to battle defections and internal dissent, Oke’s exit may mark a significant turning point in Osun State’s political trajectory — one that could alter party loyalties and reshape voter behavior in the 2027 elections.